Football is a team game, but the spectacular performance of a single player can sometimes be the difference between winning and losing. In Week 2 of the college football season, there were a number of players who put up spectacular numbers and led their teams to victory. Here are the five most notable of those performances:
Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville Cardinals
For some reason, the reigning Heisman winner was not mentioned among the top Heisman favorites this year during the offseason. That changed today after Jackson passed for 393 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 132 yards and three more scores.
Lamar Jackson (@Lj_era8) out here doing Lamar Jackson things. #Heisman pic.twitter.com/GEXA5dD9rJ
— Chat Sports (@ChatSports) September 9, 2017
Lamar Jackson (@Lj_era8) is putting on a SHOW! 43 yards to the house! pic.twitter.com/6lQGJB9xCm
— Chat Sports (@ChatSports) September 9, 2017
You simply can NOT stop Lamar Jackson pic.twitter.com/mEPejQdu9e
— Chat Sports (@ChatSports) September 9, 2017
In just two games this season - against Power 5 teams in Purdue and North Carolina, no less - Jackson has thrown for 771 yards and five touchdowns with 239 yards and three touchdowns. If you don't want to do math, that's an absurd 1,010 total yards and eight touchdowns in two games. He's also just the second player in college football history to throw for over 300 yards and rush for over 100 yards in consecutive games.
If he wasn't the Heisman favorite coming into the season, he is now.
Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma Sooners
Speaking of Heisman favorites, Mayfield put himself right on par with Jackson following Oklahoma's 31-16 win over Ohio State. He passed for 386 yards and three touchdowns while leading the Sooners on a huge second half run.
Oklahoma answers with this 36-yard TD pass from Mayfield to Flowers! #OUvsOSU pic.twitter.com/kdqbiXtNck
— Chat Sports (@ChatSports) September 10, 2017
Baker Mayfield's 2nd TD pass puts Oklahoma in front! #OUvsOSU pic.twitter.com/k9X632jDSy
— Chat Sports (@ChatSports) September 10, 2017
A little Baker Mayfield magic! #BoomerSooner pic.twitter.com/jEwB1H5W0N
— Chat Sports (@ChatSports) September 10, 2017
Mayfield has been one of the best players in college football for the past few years now, yet it looks like he has taken yet another step forward this year. Thanks to his play, it looks like the Sooners will jump to No. 2 in the polls.
Oh yeah...he also did this.
After the win, Baker Mayfield plants the Oklahoma flag at midfield in Ohio Stadium! pic.twitter.com/tWKIvnPSsv
— Chat Sports (@ChatSports) September 10, 2017
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Kendall Adams, DB, Kansas State Wildcats
Kansas State rolled to a 55-7 win over Charlotte, as expected, but Adams played a big part in turning the game into a blowout early. The junior finished with four tackles in limited work but did record a pick six and returned a fumble for a touchdown in the first half.
What a 1st half from K-State's @kenadams_21! A pick six AND a fumble return TD! pic.twitter.com/13IzgMFPCo
— Chat Sports (@ChatSports) September 9, 2017
Following an eight-tackle performance in the opener for K-State, Adams has cemented himself as a major factor for the Wildcats.
Deebo Samuel, WR, South Carolina Gamecocks
I had Samuel on my list of breakout players last week and he put forth another outstanding performance for the Gamecocks. He returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown (the second straight week he has done that) and scored on a 25-yard jet sweep.
Two games, two 97-yard KO return TDs for Deebo Samuel (@Uno_Captain)!! pic.twitter.com/wYy9e51I4U
— Chat Sports (@ChatSports) September 9, 2017
Deebo's at it again!! pic.twitter.com/5NGfekIehr
— Chat Sports (@ChatSports) September 10, 2017
He also finished the game with five catches for 45 yards in South Carolina's 31-13 win over Missouri. You'll be hearing a lot more about Samuel as the season goes on - he's one of the biggest playmakers in the SEC.
D.J. Moore, WR, Maryland Terrapins
Just like Adams, Maryland didn't need a huge game from Moore in order to beat Towson but they got one anyway. He caught seven passes for the second straight game for 97 yards and two touchdowns while adding a 21-yard TD run.
.@Djmoore1_ takes the screen and breaks a couple of tackles on his way to his 2nd TD of the day for Maryland! #GoTerps pic.twitter.com/NLoxg8v1Ef
— Chat Sports (@ChatSports) September 9, 2017
Maryland's @Djmoore1_with an absolutely RIDICULOUS touchdown run! #GoTerps pic.twitter.com/If5LneJiY9
— Chat Sports (@ChatSports) September 9, 2017
This performance came on the heels of another great game for Moore against Texas. He's become the guy Maryland looks to when they need someone to make a play.
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